Packaging machine



June 5, 1962 F. A. cHlDsEY, JR., ETAL 3,037,334

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Sept. 4, 1959 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 STAT/0N Ilylml ATTOR/VEY June 5, 1962 F. A. cHlDsEmvJR., ETAL 3,037,334

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Sept. 4, 1959 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Grover C. Carri@2.

ATTORNEY June 5, 1962 F. A. cHlDsEY, JR., ETAL 3,037,334

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Sept. 4, 1959 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY `lune 5,1962 F. A. cHlDsEY, JR., ETAL PACKAGING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 FiledSept. 4, 1959 June 5, 1962 F. A. cHlDsEY, JR., ETAL 3,037,334

PACKAGING .MACHINE 'r sheets--sneet 5 Filed Sept. 4, 1959 @NN WKN WKN@WN hmm.

ETAL 3,03 7,334

June 5, l 1962 F. A. CHIDSEY, JR.,

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Sept. 4, 1959 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 QQ Nk NNN 4/A/VE/VTORS Franezgs c/Z; C'vz'cz/Se ,Jr Grover C. Carri@ J2:

ATTORNEY June 5, -1962 F'. A. cHlDsEY, JR., ETAI. 3,037,334

^ PACKAGING MACHINE Filed sept. 4, 1959 7 sheets-sheet '7 United StatesPatent 3,937,334 PACKAGING MACHINE Francis A. Chidsey, Jr., Wayne, Pa.,and Grover C. Currie,

Jr., Charlotte, N.C., assgnors to Container Corporation of America,Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 4, 1959, Ser. No.838,276 11 Claims. (Cl. 53--48) This invention relates to mechanism forpackaging articles and more particularly to a machine for enclosing agroup of articles within an open end carton which is folded or wrappedaround the article group.

An important object of the invention is to provide a simple, compactmachine including conveying means for flat carton blanks and for thearticles to be wrapped therein, combined with means for advancing thearticles and the carton blanks and folding the panels of the carton rmlyand accurately around the articles as they are advanced.

Another object of the invention is vto provide a movable carton formingelement and operating mean-s therefor which, after partially folding thecarton around an article group, will advance the articles into positionto receive additional treatment. A further object of the invention isrto provide in a packaging machine an effective forming and conveyingmember having two or more elements adapted to encompass the partiallywrapped article group and t advance the same past a plurality oftreating stations, whereby the carton is held firmly around the articlegroup as the package is being formed and completed.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a carton forming andconveying device adapted to be moved in a closed path to engage thepartially formed packages and move them step-by-step past tre-atingstations.

An additional object of the invention is to provide in a packagingmachine mechanism for receiving one or more rows of elongated articlesconveyed flatwise in sideby-side relation and upending a selected groupof such articles preparatory to enclosing them in a wrap-around typecarton.

A still further object of the invention is to provide, in combinationwith a. machine for applying glued wraparound style cartons to -articlegroups, a take-off conveyor arranged to hold the cartons firmly aroundthe `article groups until the glue has set.

Additional and more specific objects and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In the drawings, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention-FIG. l is a top plan view, somewhat schematic, of the machine showing aportion of the carton conveyor, part of such conveyor being broken awayto show articles being assembled i-nto a group, and indicating the threestations for performing the various operations of folding the cartonaround an article group;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a completed package, part of thecarton being shown broken away to reveal the Iarticles within thecarto-n;

FIGS. 2a to 2k, inclusive, are fragmentary views to illustrate detailsof the packaging mechanism. FIG. 2a shows `the delivery of articles inthe form of small elongated cartons having a breadth in excess of thethickness of the carton, the cartons or articles being first carried intwo rows laid on `their sides and having their lengths disposedtransversely to the path of travel; FIG. 2b shows a sub-group ofpackages having just been upended; FIG. 2c shows a portion of the cartonblank conveyor with a carton thereon beginning to pass along themechanism for applying to the carton strips of slip resistant coatingand lice a strip of adhesive; FIG. 2d shows the carton blank brought torest on withdrawable supports preparatory to bringing the blank downinto its proper position on an article group; FIG. 2e shows a `fragmentof the forming member comprising the first inverted box element,illustrating how this element folds the carton blank in a preliminarymanner over the article group; FIG. 2f shows the same element after ithas advanced the partially formed package to the second treating stationand showing the preliminary folder for the short bottom ap; FIG. 2g isan end or sectional View similar to FIG. 2f showing the preliminaryfolder in its forward position after it has engaged and folded the shortiiap; FIG. 2h is a View showing another portion of the forming memberconstituting a part of the middle box element and illustrating theopening in the package group support and the plow beneath the opening tofold the short flap directly against the bottom surface of the `articlegroup; FIG. 2z' shows the partially completed package located at thethird treating station with the second preliminary folder in advancedcondition to fold ythe long iiap; FIG. 2j shows another `fragment of the`forming member constituting the third box element which has moved ydownover the partially formed package 4and is ready to advance it onto theholding conveyor and at the same time fold the second bottom iiapdirectly against the bottom surface of the articie group; and FIG. 2kshows the completed package as it appears `after it has been deliveredto an open pocket or holding section of the holding conveyor;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation, partly in cross-section taken along line 3-3of FIG. l, looking in the direction of the arrows, being on a largerscale than FIG. 3 and showing the left half of the machine as viewed inFIG. l;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view, partly in section taken y along line4-4 of FIG. l, looking in lthe direction of the arrows, being acompanion view to FIG. 3 and showing approximately the right half of themachine as viewed in FIG. l;

FIG. 5 is an end elevational View as it appears from the discharge endlooking forward or to the right as viewed in FIG. il, showing theforming member and the conveyor to hold packages under pressure untilthe adhesive has set;

FIG. 5a is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken aiong line 5cl-5a ofFIG. 5 looking in the direction of the arrows and showing details oflthe mechanism for the step-by-step advancing of the holding conveyor;

FIG. 6 is an end elevational view, partly in section, rtaken along line6 6 of FIG. 3 looking in the direction of the arrow, showing details ofthe forming member;

FIG. 7 is an end elevational view, partly in section taken along line 77 of FIG. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows, showing details ofthe forming member and showing the folders for the carton bottom iiaps;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional View taken along line S-- of FIG. 6showing details of the mechanism to provide for accelerated returnmovement of the forming member; ,y

FlG. 9 is a schematic view showing details of the driving mechanism; and

FIG. l() is a fragmentary perspective view of the mechanism for upendingthe articles, shown in side view in FIG. 4.

The mechanism of the present invention, in the embodiment disclosedherein, is particularly useful in the packaging of groups of articles,such as bottles ofdrugs which have been individually packed in cartonssuitable for idisplay on retail shelves. The articles are enclosed indisplay on retail shelves. The articles are enclosed in groups withinwrap-around type cartons open at both ends. The carton blanks, deliveredilat to the packaging machine, are rectangular and are creased or scored3 to provide a top panel, two side wall panels, and two overlappingbottom panels adapted to be secured together by adhesive. The cartonblanks at the intake or receiving end of the machine are carried singlyin flat condition and delivered in timed sequence to the initialtreating station. At this point the at blanks come to rest briefly upona pair of withdrawablc supporting rods.

A supply of articles is conveyed to the machine on a level below thepath of the blanks on belt conveyors. From this supply a predeterminednumber of articles is segregated and advanced to the initial treatingstation on a belt conveyor approximately the width of the package to beformed. This group of articles is brought to rest by contact with aremovable stop mechanism at the leading edge of the group. At this pointthe group is in vertical alignment beneath the flat carton when broughtto rest on the withdrawable support rods.

A unitary forming and conveying member is supported for movement abovethe paths of the carton blanks and the articles to be packaged. Thismember has three substantially identical, longitudinally aligned pocketsor boxes open at the bottom so that, when the unit is moved down, eachone of the pockets or vboxes may surround a partially packaged group ofarticles. The frame of the forming and conveying member is guided forfour-way movement, that is, forwardly to advance the article group beingpackaged, then upwardly, rearwardly and downwardly to engage succeedinggroups.

The first pocket or box on what may be termed the rear or trailingportion of the forming member is arranged to engage the at carton blankand fold it around the article group. As the forming member is guided onthe downward leg of its four-way movement, and just before the loweredge portions of the trailing box engage the blank, the supports onwhich the blank is resting are withdrawn. This frees the blank to movedown so its top panel portion will come to rest on the top surface ofthe article group. As the forming member continues to move down the edgeportions of the trailing box engage the side panels of the blank andfold them down in contact with the sides of the article group. The frontand rear walls of the trailing box engage the front and rear faces ofthe article group. I ust lbefore the forming box reaches the front stopmechanism this mechanism is moved clear to avoid interference with theforming box as it moves to its lowest position. At this point the sidepanels are in close Contact with the sides of the article group and thebottom panels extend down. approximately in the planes of the respectiveside panels.

The forming member, having reached its lowest position, now movesforwardly to convey the partially formed package slidably along a thin,narrow supporting plate to the second treating station. The formingmember then is withdrawn from the package, as such member moves upwardlyand then rearwardly to repeat the above described steps on the nextcarton blank and article group being delivered to the initial treatingstation.

At the second station, during the time the partially formed packageremains at rest on the narrow supporting plate, one of the bottom aps isfolded partially inward below the supporting plate by a reciprocableapfolding element. This ap in practice is made relatively narrow and isintended to be secured by adhesive to the edge of a longer flap on theopposite side of the package.

The partially formed package is moved to the third station on the nextforward movement of the forming member. The article group at the thirdstation is slidably supported on a narrow plate similar to the one atthe second station. At the forward edge of the second station, on theside where the short flap has been partially folded under, there is anopening to allow the leading edge of the short flap to move therethroughand into direct engagement with the underside of the article group. Forthe purpose of moving this ap up there is a short plow section extendingat an angle downward and rearward at the opening. As the middle box ofthe forming member comes down and engages the package and conveys itforward to the third station the short flap moves through this openingas it is moved up by the plow section causing the flap to be folded upinto contact with the articles. The short ap then slides along on theupper surface of the narrow supporting plate at the third station whilethe longer bottom tlap remains in a downwardly extended position.

At the third station, during the time the partially formed packageremains at rest on the supporting plate, the second bottom flap isfolded partially inward below the plate by a reciprocable hap-foldingelement which is similar to the rst mentioned folding element but movingin from the other side of the path of travel of the packages. The secondbottom ap is folded up by mechanism similar to that which folds up thefirst flap. At the forward end of the third station there is an openingbetween the supporting plates to allow the second flap to be brought upthrough this opening. An upwardly curved plow is arranged at the openingto engage the partially infolded flap and raise it as the package isconveyed forward by the forming member which this time engages thepackage with the leading box. The second flap having previously hadadhesive applied to its free edge portion is thus brought up intolapping relation to the first flap. The aps then require a short periodfor the adhesive to set.

A holding or pressure conveyor is provided, extending at right angles tothe path of travel of the packages. This conveyor is in the form of anendless chain. Pressure applying parts or pockets are arranged onadjacent links. One part comprises an angle piece having a verticalportion and a horizontal portion. These parts engage respectivelyagainst one side wall and the bottom of the package. Adjacent to theangle piece is secured a rear plate adapted to extend vertically toengage the second side wall of the package. The conveyor chain passesaround sprockets supported somewhat laterally of the path of thepackages discharge from the third station. As the angle piece passesaround the sprocket it assumes a position where it is exactly alignedwith the lower corner of the package as it is discharged. The rear plateon the adjacent sprocket at this point has not yet passed fully aroundthe sprocket and is somewhat inclined away from a position parallel tothe vertical section of the angle piece. The pressure conveyor is drivenin a step-byu ep manner which will bring a new pocket into position eachtime a package is about to be discharged from the forming line. Theholding conveyor remains at rest as the forming member makes its forwardtrip. The third box of die forming member thus engages the package atthe third station and advances it. At this time, during the rst portionof its movement, the remaining flap is plowed up into contact with thenarrow flap. Further movement will transfer the package from the thirdstation to the waiting pockebforming elements while they are in openposition. As soon as the forming member has advanced the package intothe pocket it will then move upward, leaving the newly formed package onthe pressure conveyor. The drive for the conveyor is so timed that itwill then advance one step. This brings the upstanding rear plate to aposition parallel with the upstanding plate of the angle piece and thesides of the package are rmly held between these upstanding plates. Thelength of the pressure conveyor is such that the adhesive will becomeset prior to or by the time the packages reach the end of the conveyor.The packages may be removed manually or by suitable mechanism forpacking in shipping cases.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the packaging mechanism issuitably mounted on a base frame structure comprising upper and lowerlongitudinal mem- .as a whole at 16; article segregatim7 and upendingmechanism, indicated as a whole at 17; -a four-way movable formingandnconveyingmember indicated as a whole at `18; structure comprising afirst treating station including a blank support and article supportingmeans indicated as a whole at 19; additional structure comprising secondand third treating stations indicated as la whole at Ztl .and 21,respectively; and a holding and pressure lapplying conveyor indicated asa whole Aat 22. Partially formed and completedpackages, are indicated asa whole at 25, made up'from carton blanks 26 and articles 27, 27 to becontained therein.

The .articles may be of differing dimensions in which event changeswould ybe made in the carton blanks. As

hereinshown the articles are in the form of closed cartons or boxes ofuniform size, somewhat elongated, and

'having a width somewhat greater than their thickness or edgemeasurements. These cartons may beV of .a size to hold small bottles ofdrugs or other commodity, either packaged or bulk. The carton blanks arecreased or scored along parallel lines to provide -a top panel 23, sidepanels 29 and 3i), a main bottom flap 31 carried on sidetpanel 30 and ashorter or narrow bottom flap- 32, such bottom faps being preferably ofa length measured from their side wall hinge connections suicient sothat they will overlap. As sho-wn in FIGS. 2 and 2k the wider flap 31overlaps the nanrow fiap 32. The carton as herein shown is arranged tohold eighteen articles arranged in two rows of nine each. Weakened linesare preferably formed in the cartons indicated at 33, 33 to enable thecompleted packages -to be separated into three smaller packages eachholdlng six articles. The particular number of weakened lines or numberof articles in a package is not material and may be varied as desired.

CARTGN BLANK DELIVERY Carton blanks are delivered to the first treatingstation on theblank conveyor 15. This is supported on a vertical framemember 12a, a transverse frame member 13a, and vertically positionedside plates, one of which is shown at lia in EEG. 4. The carton blanksare carried flat on a pair of yspaced sprocket chains 36, 36 havingspaced pairs of lugs 37, 37. Longitudinal frame members '33 secured tothe side frame members 11a serve yas supporting means for the sprocket.chains 'and side guides for the -lateraledges of the blanks. At thereceiving vend of the conve or the -s rocket chains ass over sprockets39 'on shaft 40 journalled in the frame members 11a and at the deliveryend the sprocket chains pass over sprockets 41 xed on a driven shaft 42,journalled in the forward frame members 12a. The forward section of theconveyor is inclined downward to bring its discharge end relativelyclose to the point of `assembly of the article #gro-ups brought intoposi-tion by the article conveyor '16. Chain supporting bars l43 and d4secured to the frame members 38 serve to support the upper reaches ofthe conveyor. The chain may also be supported cn its lower reach byidler sprockets 4S, 45 vcarried on stub shafts secured in the sideframes.

`portionsa coating of adhesive. To .accomplish this there are providedpans 49 and 50 for holding slip .resistant material and adhesive. Fournarrow vrolls or disks Y51, 5l and a similar disk 52 have a portion .oftheir lperipheries turning in the liquid contained in the respectivepans. See FIG. 2c. These disks are mounted Aon `a freely rotatable shaft53 having its ends yjournalled in the vertical side frames. VA series-ofInarrow applicator rolls or disks indicated at Y54, 54 and at 5S, bearrespectively upon the lower disks 51, 51 and 52. These disks are fixedto the driven shaft 47 carrying the loose sprockets 46 above mentioned.Small pressure rollers S7, 57 are arranged to bear against the uppersurface of the carton blank to press it into engagement Vwith the liquidapplying disks in `Contact with the under surface of the blank. Therollers '57 are mounted on a shaft 5S free to move vertically andcarried at the ends of arms S9 having their opposite ends pivotallysupported at 6i! yon the frame members 3S.

The shaft 47 has a sprocket 62 fixed thereon whereby the shaft may bedriven by a sprocket chain 63 passing around sprocket 64 `on the drivenshaft 412. The shaft 42 in turn carries a sprocket 65 which is driven bya sprocket chain 66 which passes around a sprocket 67 secured on a jackshaft 68 which is journalled in suitable bearings in the lower portionof the base frame. lShaft-68 Vhas a sprocket 68a keyed thereon overwhich passes -a lsprocket chain 69 which at its other end passes over asprocket 69a on the primary drive shaft described below. As the cartonsare conveyed on the chains 36 propelled by lugs 37 they move over theliquid coating applying disks and are held in contact with such disksbythe pressure rollers 57. Strips or bands of slip resistant coating areapplied to the interior of the carton walls and a coating of adhesive isapplied to a portion of the free edge of the wider bottom flap 31.

The blanks are discharged from the end of the conveyor and come to restbriefly on a releasable support which comprises a pair of rods70, 70.See FlGS. 2d, 4, 6 and 9. As best shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the leadingedge of the carton is stopped as the edge strikes thevertical web 71 ofan angle stop member which projects laterally int-o the p ath of thecarton. These stop members are secured to side guiding plates 72, l72which in turn are secured to brackets 73 carried on vertical framemembers 12b. The inner edges of the stops 71 are spaced apart a distancegreater than lthe transverse dimension, that is the width of thepackage, for the purpose, as will be seen more clearly later, ofallowing the forming and conveyor member 18 to move freely between thesesteps. The rear edges of the blanks engage a curved guide element 74which insures that the carton leading edge is against the forward stops71.

The releasable support rods 70 are carried on the upper end of one legof a U-shaped bracket 76. T he-other leg `of the bracket is secured toan oscillatable rod 77, supported at lits ends in suitable bearingswhich may 'be secured on the outer side of the side guiding plates 72.Asshown in FIG. 6, the rods 70, 70 are .arranged to swing from aposition below and outside the guiding pla-tes72, 72, to a positioninside and somewhat abovethe lowertedges of the plates. As shown inFIGS. -4 and `9, the movement of the rods 70, 7G is controlled bysuitably guided, vertically reciprocable racks 7Shaving teeth meshingwith a pinion 79 on the rod 77. Eachrack is connected atits lower end toa vertical link 80, joined at its lower end to a rock lever '81 on larock shaft 82 journalled on a block on the lower frame member 11. Therock shaft 82 has another rock lever, designa-ted at 83, fixed thereon.At'the upper end of this rock lever is connected a rodi 84 having aconnection at its oppositeend with arock lever 85 pivoted at 86 onvertical frame 12C. Intermediate the ends of-the lever S5 is a camroller o-r follower S7 lbearing on a-'cam disk S8 fixed on the Shaft 68which drives the `carton conveyor through sprocket 67 .andksprocketchain 66, The driving -ratio is such that within a xed interval afterthe carton conveyor delivers a carton to the rods 70, 70 the racks willbe reciprocated upward to withdraw the rods from supporting position,permitting the carton blank to lovl toward an article group in positionbelow the carton No particular mechanism has been shown for feedingcarton blanks from a supply of blanks to the blank conveyor. This may bedone by any one of several convenient mechanisms, such as a vacuum cupmechanism, or blanks could be placed on the conveyor by hand. The onlyrequirement for the present mechanism is that a blank be conveyed byeach set of lugs 37 while the mechanism is operating normally.

ARTICLE CONVEYING AND GROUPING The article conveyor in the presentinstance is designed to receive and convey two rows of 4articles withsuch articles disposed with their long axes transverse to the conveyingpath and with the articles laid flat on their wide faces, as shown inFIGS. 1, 2a, 2b and 4. The two rows of articles as they travel on theirwide faces are preferably kept separated by a thin, vertically disposeddivider. Before final grouping at the first treating station thearticles are upended after which they are brought into a group of tworows with the wide faces of the cartons in one row in contact with suchfaces in the other row as shown in FIGS. l and 4. Flexible beltconveyors are preferably employed having a surface which will admit ofat least a limited amount of sliding movement of the belt beneath thearticles while the articles are momentarily prevented from advancing. Asshown in FIGS. 1, 2b and 9, three narrow conveyor belts 90, 91 and `92at their receiving ends pass around rolls 93, 93 on an idler shaft 94supported in longitudinal ,frame members a. The belts 91 and 92 at theirforward or discharge ends pass around rolls 9S, 95 on a driven shaft 96.The middle belt 90 extends beyond the discharge ends of lbelts 91 and 92and passes around a roll 97 on a driven shaft 98. The shaft 98 carries asprocket 99 at one end driven by a sprocket chain 100 which passesaround a sprocket 101 on primary drive shaft 102. At the other end ofshaft 98 is a sprocket 103 over which passes a chain 104 which alsopasses around a sprocket 105 on the shaft 96 carrying the rolls forbelts 91 and 92.

The side belts 91 and `92 are spaced `from the middle belt 90, as seenin FIGS. l, 2a, 2b and 9, and the rows of articles are conveyed with oneend portion of the articles on the middle belt and the other end portionon an outside belt. The rows are separated by a divider 108 in the formof a thin, vertically disposed plate supported closely y above themiddle belt 90. Bars 109, 109 are secured to this plate with their loweredges spaced from the belt 90 a sufficient distance to permit the endsof the articles to move freely along below the edges of the bars. SeeFIGS.

2a and 4. Side guide kbars 110 (see FIG. 4) may be em-' ployed along thesides of the belts 91 and 92. These guides are suitably secured to thelongitudinal frame members 10a by brackets 111.

During normal operation of the packaging mechanism a solid row of thearticles on the conveyors is desirable on each side of the divider plate108. The rows of articles move toward the rst treating station untilthey are brought to rest by stops 112, 112. These may be conveniently inthe form of cylinders or rollers bolted at their outer ends onstationary brackets 113, 113 secured to a frame member. The inner endsof the stops are spaced away from the guide bars 109 on the divider 103by a distance permitting the articles to pass edgewise between the endsof the stops and the bars. Selected numbers of articles are upended onthe middle conveyor belt 90 and allowed to pass the stops while lthesupply of oncoming articles is momentarily checked.

Upendng M ec/zanism For the purpose of upending the selected number ofarticles, or subgroups, on each belt upending elements 115, 115 arearranged to act upon articles immediately adjacent to stops 112. Theseelements are in the form of inverted U-shape rods of small diameter,permitting them to move between the adjacent edges of the middle andouter belts. See FIGS. 2b, 4 and 10. Means are provi-ded for moving theupending rods in synchronism with the other operating parts. For thispurpose the rods are supported upon a vertically movable frame 116including a base plate 117 having upstanding posts 118 thereon carryingcross pieces 119 supporting bearings 120, 120 into which are receivedrockable rods 121, 121 to which the lower legs of the upending rods 115are rigidly secured.

The frame 116 is guided in its vertical movement by providing openingsin the plate 117 into which stationary guide rods 124, 124 are received.These rods are secured at their upper ends to brackets 125, 125 on theframe member 10 and at their lower ends are secured to a frame platesecured on the lower frame member 11. For greater stability aperturedbosses 126, 126 are secured to the bottom face of the plate 117 and therods 124 pass through these bosses as well as opening in the plate 117.

The frame 116 is moved upward by a rockable cam operated lever or bar127 pivoted at 128 on a frame member. The bar 127 has its outer endconnected to the frame plate 117 by an adjustable length, pivoted link129. At its other end, the bar 127 carries a roller 130 bearing againstan eccentric cam 131 secured to rotate with shaft 63. When the operatingsurface of cam 131 engages the end of the bar 127, causing it to rock,the upending frame is moved upward, bring the rods 115, 115 intoengagement with the individual subgroups of articles on each side of thedivider 108, causing them to move to upright position. Further rotationof the cam allows the upending rods to move down. This movement isassisted by a coil spring 132 having one end secured to the end rod 127and the other secured to the base frame.

After the upending rods have moved the articles substantially to upendedposition it is desirable to position the articles closely against theouter face of the bar 109. Means are therefore provided for swinging theupending rods inwardly near the end of their upward movement. For thispurpose a stationary cam element 13S (see FIGS. 4 and l0) is secured tothe base frame member 13a. Disks 136 are fixed on the ends of therockable rods 121 and to these disks are secured rollers 137 bearing onthe straight faces 138 of the cam when the upending rods are in theirlower or inoperative position. When the frame 116 is raised to raise therods the rollers reach the inclined cam faces. This causes the rollersto move outward to rotate the rods 121 to produce an inward swingingmovement of the rods 115, forcing the articles firmly against the bar109 after they have been upended. A coil spring 140 has its endsconnected to the lower peripheries of the disks to keep the rollers 137firmly against the cam faces at all times.

As soon as the upender rods 11S have moved away from the articles, whichwill be when the rollers 137 have been moved away from the inclined camfaces 139 to the straight faces 133, the articles are moved forwardsince, by upending them, they will clear the stops 112, and the belt 90,being in continuous operation, will advance the articles.

It is advantageous in some constructions to tip the articles somewhatupwardly at the outer ends and for this purpose a wedge-shaped beltsupport 141 may be employed beneath the belts 91 and 92, extendingapproximately the length of the article subgroups. See FIGS. 2a and 2b.

As shown in FIGS. 2b and 4 the rear portions of the upending rods 115,where these portions extend vertically to join with the rods 121, act asstop elements to prevent the rows of articles at the rear of the rodsfrom advancing until the rods have been returned to ylower position.

A stop may be provided to operate in the event the supply of articles onthe conveyor belts becomes interrupted so that in the operation of themechanism the collection of complete subgroups of articles at theupending point will be assured. For this purpose a pivoted stop element144 (see FiG. 4) having an upwardly turned hook end is locatedimmediately to the rear of the ends of the upending rods on each side ofthe divider. The stop is supported below the level of the downwardlydirected faces of the articles and the hook ends are adapted to move upin the spaces between the middle and outer belts. A link 145 is pivotedto the rear end of the pivoted stop and is in turn joined with thearmature of a solenoid 146. The solenoid may be energized throughconducting wires, not shown, by a trip switch operating finger 147. Solong as the finger of the trip switch is supported by a continuoussupply of articles moving in edge-to-edge contact the solenoid willremain inoperative. However, if the article supply on either side of thedivider plate is interrupted and either trip finger moves down due to noarticle being present to support it, the solenoids on each side will beactuated whereby the hook ends of the stops will swing up and preventfurther advancing movement of the articles.

After the articles in upended condition pass the stops 112 they are atthis time supported only on the middle belt 911. As the articles passonto the end portion of the middle belt that projects beyond the sidebelts they clear the end of the divider and the two subgroups move intofacial contact. See FIG. 2d.

'The article group is now advanced by conveyor 90 beneath the pointwhere the blank is brought to rest on the withdrawable support rods 78,'78. Stops are provided at this point to bring the leading edge of thegroup into vertical alignment with the leading edge of the blank. Asshown in FIGS. 2d, 4, 6 and 9, the stops comprise a pair of abutmentplates 150, 150 secured to outwardly swingable arms 151, 151. These armsare rigidly secured to a pair of meshing pinions 152 and 152a rotatableon shafts or spindles supported on the base frame. A crank arm 153 issecured on one face of pinion 152g and has its outer end pivotallyconnected to a link 154 which is in turn pivotally connected with theend of a cam operated rocker arm 155. This arm is pivoted at its end ona bracket 156 fixed to the base frame. At the central part of the arm155 is mounted a roller 157 which bears against the edge of a rotatablecam 158 fixed on the primary drive shaft 102. The operating section ofthe cam, when coming into engagement with the roller 157, depresses arm155 to cause rotation of pinion 152a and simultaneous rotation of pinion152. The stop arms 151, 151 are thus caused to swing away from eachother to permit passage of the article group. A coil spring 159 havingits ends secured to the arms 151, 151 serves to return the arms tovertical position where they are again effective to stop an articlegroup.

The arm 153 is preferably formed with an elongated slot to permit ofadjustment in the extent of angular movement of the arm by the camoperated arm 155. By securing the upper end of the link at differentpoints along this slot the angular movement of arm 153 may be varied.

At the discharge end of the middle conveyor belt 98 there is provided anarrow, elongated supporting plate 153 having its rear end portionextending between the stop supporting arms 151, 151 to a point closelyadjacent to the belt 90 to comprise in effect a continuation of thearticle supporting and conveying surface afforded by the belt. See FIGS.2d and 4. As best shown in FIG. 4, the article group, segregated by theupending mechanism, is advanced by the conveyor belt 9i) and is haltedby the stops 150. ln this position the leading end of the article groupis resting o-n the plate 163. By reason of the continued forward travelof the belt the article group 1@ is held against the stops 150, 15G inline with the leading edge ofthe carton blank.

The support for the article group provided by the conveyor belt and rearend of the plate 163, together with the carton blank supporting meansare at the position referred to as the fir-st treating station and`designated by numeral 19.

FORMING AND CONVEYING MEMBER The forming and conveying member indicatedas a whole at 18 is guided through a four directional path, namely,forward, upward, rearward and downward, and functions first to fold thecarton about the top and ysides of an article group at the firsttreating station and then to move the partially formed packages, thatis, the articles within the carton, step-by-step past the three treatingstations and finally to deliver the completed packages to the holdingconveyor where they are held and advanced while the adhesive on thecarton flaps is becoming set. As best seen in FIGS. l, 3, 6 and 7, theforming and conveying member comprises three elongated, downward openingpockets or boxes 164, and 166 secured to the under side of a channelbeam 167, one web of which is secured to a movable supporting frame 168.This frame is mounted for forward and rearward movement on anothersupporting frame 169 which is mounted for vertical movement on anupstanding stationary frame 170, `secured on the base frame. Themovement of the forming boxes is controlled by a generally rectangularguide member 171 fixed on the frame 170 by bolts 172, 172. The guidemember 171 has la pair of inner and outer ribs 173, 174 which provide achannel 175 within which a roller 176, secured to a depending, V-shapedpart 177 on the frame 168, is guided.

The frame 168 has upwardly projecting bosses 180, 180 apertured toreceive a rod 181 having its ends fixedly secured in frame parts 182,182 of the vertically movable frame 169. The parts 182, 182 are suitablyapertured to receive individually vertically extending rods 183, 183having their ends fixed in bracket elements 184, 184 on the upstandingframe 170.

Means are provided for continuously moving the frame 16S through itsguided path. For this purpose `a rigid bar or rod 185 is secured withinan apertured boss 186 on the frame 168 so that the free end of the rod185 projects rearward. This bar has rotatably secured thereon two setsof rings indicated at 187, 187 secured to links `of a pair of sprocketchains 188, 188. These sprocket chains run respectively over two pairsof sprockets 189, 189, each pair fixed on shafts 198, 19061, eachjournalled between the sprocket on a beam element 191 which is rigidlysecured at its ends in the upright parts of the frame 170. The chains183 also pass over two pairs of idler sprockets 192, 192 rotatable onspindles fixed on the beam 191. The shaft 19t) has a sprocket 194 fixedthereon over which passes a drive chain 195 which extends down andpasses over -a sprocket 196 on a jack shaft 197. While this shaft 197may be driven at a constant rate, it is preferred tordrive it so thatthe speed of rotation yof the shaft is substantially uniform while theforming member is moving on the downward, forward and upward legs of itsclosed path. On the reverse movement of the forming member it is movedat an accelerated rate of speed. For this purpose a pinion 198 fixed onjack shaft 197 meshes with a gear 199 on a stub shaft or spindle 200held in a vertical frame element 201.

The stub shaft 200 is in a position somewhat offset from the axis of theprimary drive shaft 102. See FIGS. 6, 8 and 9. The gear 199 has a crankpin 202 that is received in a slot 283 of a crank lever 204 keyed on theadjacent end of the primary drive shaft 102. While the crank pin is inthe portion of the slot 203 nearest the -axis of the shaft 1112 themovement transmitted to the gear 199 is slower than when the crank pinis in position more remote from the axis of the shaft. The ratios of thevarious gears and the position of the crank lever with respect to thepol l sition of the frame 168 is such that the most rapid motiontransmitted to the shaft 197 is when the frame 168 is in its reversemovement and guided Ialong the upper portion ofthe guide channel 175.

The vertically movable frame 169 is preferably counterbalanced torelieve strain on the driving gear, For tlrs purpose outwardlyprojecting lugs 298, 208 are provided on the frame parts 182. The endsof sprocket chains 209, 209, are respectively secured to these lugs. Thechains pass over individual sprockets 210 rotatable on spindles securedin the upper part of the frame 170. A loop is formed in each chain andthe end of the chain adjacent the loop is secured in individual lugs211, 211 on the frame 170. See FIG. 6. In the lower part of each loop issuspended a small sprocket 212 rotatable in supporting yoke 213. Theupper end of a strong coil spring 214 is secured to each yoke 213, thelower end f each spring being secured in individual eye bolts 215anchored on the base frame. As the frame 169 moves down guided by thedownward portion of the guide channel 175 while the forming member movesclockwise around the channel, the springs will be extended, tending tobalance the weight of the descending parts. Reversely, when the formingmember moves upward the stored energy in the extended springs assiststbe driving means in lifting the forming member.

The forming pockets or boxes 164, 165 and 166 are substantiallyidentical and for simplicity only the box 164 will be described indetail. The front and rear walls of the box, indicated at 218 and 219,in the present instance extend slightly below the lower edges of theside walls 220, 220. The lower edges of the walls 218 and 219 arepreferably bevelled to expedite the passage of these walls along thefront and rear faces of the article group. Likewise the lower edges ofthe side walls 220 are bevelled to facilitate folding of the cartonblank side panels along the sides of the article group. The side wallsof the box are preferably formed of two panels spaced vertically toprevent undue entrapment of air inside the box as it comes into closefitting relation to the article group with the carton foldedtherearound. The top 221 of the inverted box is suitably secured to thebottom web of the channel beam 167 as by means of welding. Beneath thetop 221 is supported a follower plate 222 constituting the operativetop. Plate 222 is guided by a pair of pins 223 secured at their lowerends to the plate 222. These pins pass through registering apertures inthe top 221 and the bottom web of the channel beam. Coil springs 224surround the pins 223 and bear at opposite ends against the top 221 andplate 222. Heads 225 on the pins 223 limit their downward movement.

First Treating Station In the operation of the first forming box 164 atthe first treating station let it be assumed that the flat carton hasbeen advanced on conveyor to the withdrawable support rods and thearticle group has been moved up against the stop members 158. Theforming box has completed its forward motion and will be travellingupwardly and rearwardly along its closed path. At approximately the timewhen the forming box begins its downward movement the cam element 88will be rotated to the point where its operating section will engage theroller 87 on lever 85 and move this lever to actuate the racks 78through the linkage described above and cause the rods 70 to flipoutwardly to drop the carton blank onto the article group. The formingbox 164, upon continuing its downward motion will reach a position inwhich its forward wall 218 will move down along the leading edge of thecarton blank. The bevelled lower edges of the side walls 220 will engagethe side panels of the blank along line adjacent but outside the scorelines along which the side panels are hinged to the top panel, causingthe side panels to fold down as indicated in FIG. 2e.

After the side walls 220 of the box 164 have moved along the side panelsof the carton only a short distance the follower plate 222 will moveinto contact with the top panel of the carton blank, holding such panelrmly against the top surface of the article group. Both the wide andnarrow bottom flaps of the carton blank will remain substantially in theplanes of their respective attached side panels.

As the forming member approaches its lowest position the operatingportion of cam 158 will be rotated to the position where it will causethe rock lever to move down thus causing the article group stop elements150, 155 to swing away from each other to provide a clear pathpreparatory to the forward movement of the partially wrapped articlegroup. The stop elements remain in their holding position until thefront wall 218 of the forming box has come into holding relation withthe leading face of the article group. Thus, such front wall takes overfrom the stops their function of retaining the articles at the frontportion of the article group from any possible forward shifting withrespect to the remainder of the group. With the box 164- surrounding theupper portion of the article group as illustrated in FIG. 2e and withthe stop element 15G, 159 in their separated positions the functionsperformed at the first treating station are complete and the partiallyformed package is ready to be transferred to the second treatingstation. This is accomplished after the forming box has completed itsdownward movement yand has moved its full distance forward. At thispoint the box 164 begins its upward travel and leaves the partiallycompleted package at the second treating station. The follower plate222, being spring pressed downward, will act to eject the package fromthe box on upward movement of the box 164 and the package will thus beleft in proper position on the support at the second treating station.

S ecolzrl T renting S talion It is to be noted that the distance thepackage is moved between treating stations is somewhat greater than thelength of the package. The plate 163, which at its rear end portionforms part of the article group support at the first station, ispreferably continued for the major portion of the length of the secondtreating station. The plate 163 is supported by vertical posts 162, 162preferably welded to the under surface of the plate and at their lowerends to the base frame. There are principally two functions performed atthis station. The short bottorn flap of the carton is folded inward in apreliminary manner, and later this fold is completed so that the flapwill be brought into direct contact with the bottom face of the articlegroup by the time the package is advanced past the second treatingstation.

As the package starts from the first treating station if the side panelsare not in fiat contact with the sides of the yarticle group, they willbe guided inward by the flaring ends 227, 227 of side guide bms 223,228. See FIGS. 2f, 3, 4 and 7. The partially completed package thuscomes to rest at the second station substantially as indicated in FIG.2f with its trailing end advanced a short distance forwardly of the endsof the guide bars 228, and the side panels of the carton are heldclosely against the article group by these guide bars.

The means for folding the short bottom flap inward in a partial orpreliminary fold comprises an elongated flap folding element 229 whichmay be in the form of an angle bar extending longitudially of thesupport 163. This angle bar is secured on the upper ends of verticallyextending frame parts 230, 230. Each part 236 has rigidly securedthereto a guide rod 231. lThese guide rods are slidably received withinpairs of aligned apertures formed in elongated blocks or bars 232, 232(see FIGS. 2f and 7) which -are secured to the base frame.

As best shovm in FIGS. 2g and 7, the elongated supporting plate 163 isof a width somewhat narrower than the width of the package group. Theessential relationship, however is that the edge of the plate on theside of the short ap at the second treating station is offset inward ofthe path of movement of the adjacent lower edge of the article group.The flap folder 229 is supported at such level as to place its uppersurface slightly below the under surface of the plate 163. As alsoindicated in FlGS. 2g and 7, there is a free space between the edges ofthe plate 163 and the guide bars 228, 228 for the bottom flaps to extenddown. As shown in FIGS. 2f and 7, the flap engaging `portion of thefolder element 229 is in retracted position, clear of the space betweenthe plate 163 and the adjacent guide bar 228, while the partiallycompleted package is being moved into position at the second treatingstation. After the package has been brought to rest the folder is movedinward, as shown in FG. 2g, to fold the short flap 32 inwardly at aninclination to the horizontal. The folder is then moved back to itsfirst position as shown in FlG. 7.

The operating means for the folder causes it yto be reciprocated intimed relation with the movement of forming and conveying member 18. Forthis purpose there is provided a `downwardly projecting lug or bracket235 on the folder 229, having the end of a link 236 pivotally connectedthereto, with the other end of the link connected -to a rock lever 237fixed on a rock shaft 238 having its ends journalled in members of thebase frame. This shaft 23S has also secured thereto a bell crank leverhaving a laterally extending portion 239 to which is pivotally connecteda vertically disposed link '241i which carries at its end a yoke orguide element 241 engaged over a roller 242-2 on a shaft 242-3 extendinglongitudinally of the base frame. Adjacent the guide element 241 thereis secured :a cam disk 244 which engages a cam roller 245. As the shaft243 rotates the roller 245, riding on the edge of the earn, willperiodically raise the link 240 to rock the shaft 238 and reciprocatethe folder 229. A coil spring 246, having one end secured to thevertically extending arm 247 of the bell crank lever and its other endsecured to the base frame, serves to retain the cam roller firmlyagainst the cam surface and urge the link 240 downward after the cam haslifted the link. The shaft 243 has a bevel gear 2li-3 on one end meshingwith a similar bevel gear 249 keyed on the primary drive Shaft 102.

After the flap 32 has been folded as just described, the next step is tobring it into flat contact with the under surface of the article group.For this purpose the plate 163 is preferablyterminated a short distancebeyond the point where the forward edge of the box 164 stops in itsadvancing movement. From this point to approximately the forward end ofthe third treat-ing station a narrow supporting plate 25)` is employedupon which the package may sl-ide as in the case of the plate 163. Thisplate 250 is secured in fixed position by means of supporting posts 251,251 welded to the under surface of the plate and tothe base frame. Aportion of the rear end of the plate 250, indicated at 252, is bentdownward at an angle and extends rearwardly at an angle under theforward end portion of the plate 163 to form a flap folding plow. As thesecond forming box indicated at 165 completes its four-way movement itis brought into encompassing relation with the package at the secondtreating station. When the box 165 moves forward it slides the packagefrom the plate 163 and onto the plate 250. The flap 32 that has beenpartially folded inward comes into contact with the inclined plowportion 252 which guides the ap smoothly so it will be carried along theupper surface of the plate 250 and will be in direct contact with thebottom surface of the article group. It is to be noted that the followerplate in the box 165, due to its engagement with the top panel of thecarton, holds such top panel firmly against the top surface of thearticle group and causes the side panels to move to their intendedposition along the sides of the article group. This tends to assure thatthe hinge -line o'f the flap 32 will be 1n accurate register with thelower edge of the article group.

As the box completes its forward motion, bringing the flap 32 againstthe artic-le group, it then moves upward to leave the package at rest:at the third treating station.

Third Treating Station The package at this stage is still held-betweenthe guide bars 228 and the long ibottom flap extends down substantiallyin the plane of its attached side wall. The functions performed at thethird station are similar to those performed lat the second station.That is, the long ap 31 is first bent in a preliminary manner afterwhich it is folded up against the bottom surface of the article groupand yagainst the short flap 32. The lateral edge of the plate 250 on theside where the Hap 32 bears upon it is preferably in vertical line withthe inner face of the guide bar 228 so that the full width of the flap32 is in contact with the plate. The other edge of the plate is offsetinward from the vertical face of the guide bar on that side of thepackage. See FIG. 2z'.

While the package remains at rest at the third station it is adjacent asecond'flap folder which has a flap engaging head 254 having faces `atright angles to each other and supported on the upper ends of verticallyextending frame parts 255'each of which has rigidly secured thereto aguide rod 256. These guide rods are slidably received within pairs ofaligned apertures formed in elongated `blocks or bars 257, -2'5'7 (seeFIGS. 3 and 7) which are suitably secured to the base frame.

T he flap folder 254 is arranged to be mo'ved from a position asindicated in FlG. 7 to the position indicated in FIG. 2i. In moving inthis manner the flap is swung up at an inclination below the plate 250.For the purpose of moving the folder ya link T258 is pivotally connected`at one end to a bracket 259 on the folder and at its other end isconnected to a rock lever 260 supported on the base frame. Another link261 is joined to the rock lever intermediate its length and the otherend of the link is connected to the lower end of the verticallyextending arm of bell crank lever 247 carried on rock shaft 238. It isthus seen that the two ap folders 229 and 254 `are arranged to operatesimultaneously. The folder 229 folds the short bottom flap of onepackage `at the second station while the folder 254 folds the longbottom ap of a preceding package at the third station.

After the long bottom ilap 31 has been folded as just described, thefolder 254 is retracted and the forming memlber 18 will be approachingits lowered position at which the package will be encompassed by theforming box 166 and by -its forward movement the package will he movedaway from'the third station and onto the holding and pressure 4applyingconveyor 22. During the step of moving the package beyond the thirdstation the long ap 31 will be brought up against the bottom -surface ofthe package group. To `accomplish this result the narrow supportingplate 250 is terminated at its forward end just a short distance inadvance of the forward end of the box 166 on its downward travel toprovide an opening through which the ilap 31 may slide edgewise. Aninclined cam or plow element 264, see FIGS. 2j and 3, is secured on thebase frame so that its inclined surface extends from a position belowand to the rear of the end of the plate 256 to a position slightlyforward of the end of such plate. The upper rear edge of the element 264is preferably aligned with the top surface of the plate 25) so that thepackage will move smooth-ly along over the end of the element 264 whilethe flap 31 is being moved from under the plate 250 to'a position in'which it will Contact the under surface of the iarticle group and itsfree edge portion, to which a coating-of adhesive has been applied asindicated at 265 in FlG. 2i, will come into contact with the previouslyfolded narrow flap 32.

` l5 Holding Conveyor The package, as it is advanced from the thirdtreating station, is complete except that a short interval is requiredfor the adhesive between the flaps to set. The packages are thereforepreferably delivered to the holding and pressure applying conveyor 22upon leaving the third treating station. This conveyor as shown hereinextends at a right angle with respect to the direction of travel on theforming section. As best shown in FIGS. 2k, 3 and 5, the holdingconveyor comprises a plurality of two-part, pocket-forming elementsindicated at 268 and 269. The element 268 is right angular n shapehaving a horizontal web to support the completed package and a verticalweb against which a side wall of the package may bear. The element 269is also of angle shape and comprises a vertical web to bear against theapposite side of a package resting on the element 268. The horizontalwebs of the elements 268 and 269 are secured to adjacent links of spacedsprocket chains 270, 270, passing around sprockets 271, 271 on shafts272 at one end of the conveyor and sprockets 273, 273 on a driven shaft274 at the other end.

The center of sprocket 271 is so related to the line of travel of thepackages on the forming conveyor that when a completed package istransferred onto the element 268, as shown in FIG. 5, the element 269will be traveling up along the contour of the sprocket and will not havereached a position where the vertical web will contact the side of thepackage. As soon as the conveyor is advanced this element 269 will moveup to the level of the element 268 and between the two elements thebottom and sides of the package will be held firmly in squaredrelationship. The length of the conveyor 22 may be varied dependent uponthe time required for the adhesive to set. The packages `are removed inany desired manner, either mechanically or by hand, at the discharge endof the conveyor.

The conveyor 22 is driven step-by-step in timed relation to the formingconveyor. For this purpose a drive chain 275 passes at one end over asprocket 276 on the driven shaft 274 and `at the other end over asprocket 277 on a shaft 278, journalled on a lower part of the baseframe. See FIGS. 5 and 5a.

The intermittent movement of the conveyor is obtained by a reciprocablerack 280 movable in a guide element 281 fixed on the frame. At one endthe rack is connected by a link 282 to a crank 283 on the shaft 243which is driven by the primary drive shaft 102. The rack teeth mesh withteeth on a rotor element 284 having a bearing turning freely on a shaft27S. The rotor 284 carries a pivoted detent 285 which is spring loadedto urge it to move counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 5 and is adaptedto engage in recesses 286, 286 formed in a disk 287 fixed on the shaft278. One face 288e of the recess extends radially of the disk and theother face 28312 extends away from the face 288e at an angle to a radialline. The hook portion of the detent is adapted to ride along thesurface of the disk 287 when the rack is moving to the right as viewedin FIG. 5 and when the rack has reached the limit of its travel the hookof the detent moves into the recess in position to engage the straightor radial face. Movement of the rack to the left will then reverse thedirection of the rotor carrying the detent, and the latter, beingengaged with the face 238e., will rotate the disk 287 through an angleof 180. Reversal in the direction of movement of the rack will cause thehook end of the detent to ride up the inclined face 28812 and back alongthe cylindrical face of the disk until it reaches the opposite recess286 where it will again engage the radial face 288g of this recess andon the next movement of the rack toward the left, as viewed in FIG. 5,the detent will again move the disk through 180. The mechanism justdescribed is conventional. Any other convenient mechanism adapted tomove the holding conveyor step-by-step may be employed.

The primary drive shaft 102 has a gear wheel 290 keyed thereon which isdriven from motor 291 through reduction gear box 292.

To summarize the operation-for each full movement of the forming member18 through its closed path a group of articles will be upended on thearticle conveyor, there will be a carton blank delivered by the blankconveyor onto the withdrawable supports and a single article group,previously upended, will be delivered to the article supporting andconveying means at the first treating station. At a point in the travelof the forming member sufliciently ahead of its arrival on the downwardleg of its movement, the support rods will be withdrawn from beneath theblank and the blank is thus freed to move down against the top of thearticle group. The first forming box 164 then comes into contact withthe blank, causing it to be folded over the sides of the article group.Prior to the box 164 reaching its lowermost position the stop elements150, 150 are moved apart to clear the way for the box 164 to movefarther down over the article group. While the stops are still separatedthe form-ing member moves forward. This will bring the forming box 164to the second treating station. When the box 164 has moved forward theblank support rods 76, 70 and the stops 150, 156 will return to thepositions respectively where a carton blank will be supported and anarticle group will be stopped. After the box 164 has brought the packageto the second treating station it moves upword away from the package tocontinue moving through its closed path. While the package is at rest atthe second station the folder for the short bottom flap will be movedlaterally to fold the flap partially toward its horizontal position.

The package is then ready to be advanced which is done by beingencompassed by the second forming box 16S which moves the packageforward to cause further folding of the short bottom flap and to deliverthe package to the third station. The long bottom flap is partiallyfolded by the reciprocable folder at this station, this action beingsimultaneous with the action of the folder at the second station on asucceeding package. The third forming box 166 then engages and moves thepackage from the third station with consequent further folding of thelong flap and the package is delivered by the third forming box to theholding and pressure applying conveyor.

As each successive package is delivered to this conveyor, the conveyoris moved forward one step to bring one of the pocket forming portionsinto exact position to receive a package frm the third station. As theconveyor is advanced the trailing pocket forming portion moves intoposition from around the end of the conveyor so that it will come intofirm contact with the package side wall and cause `both side walls to beheld securely by the upright portions of the pocket forming portions,giving thc adhesive time to set while the packages are within thepockets.

The machine of the present invention is particularly advantageous foruse in the wrapping of a carton around relatively elongated groups ofarticles compared with their height and width, in which at the same timeit is desired to use cartons with a securing flap that is relativelyshort measured out from its hinge line with the attached side wall. Bythe use of a reciprocating folder the flap is prefolded along the creaseor score, previously unbroken, defining the hinge connection between theflap and side wall. By so prefolding or prebreaking of the score linethere is no difiiculty in folding of the flap into its final hori-Zontal position against the bottom surface of the article group.

By employing a plurality of forming boxes the carton is not onlyeffectively folded about the top and sides of the package group butalso, as the final folding operation is being performed on each bottomiiap, the top and side panels are kept in close contact with the top andsides of the article group, thus tending to assure that the fold linesbetween the sides and bottom flaps will be in proper registration withthe bottom corners of the article group.

While the present description sets forth a preferred em bodiment of theinvention, numerous changes may be made in the `construction Withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention, and it is therefore desiredthat the present embodiment be considered in all respects asillustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appendedclaims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope ofthe invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine for packaging articles within an open end, wrap-aroundcarton comprising a rectangular blank scored along parallel lines toprovide a top panel and two side panels with bottom flaps carried by theside panels, the combination of a treating station comprising supportmeans for releasably supporting a flat carton blank, an article supportat the treating station adapted yto receive a group of a predeterminednumber of articles arranged in a row, said article support being injuxtaposition with the carton yblank support means, whereby the blank isarranged in position to contact the article group with the top panel ofthe blank in register with the top surface of the article group, aforming element comprising opposed side walls spaced to fit closelyagainst the sides of the article group when enclosed within the cartonblank, means for moving the forming element through a closed, generallyrectangular path, whereby it will move into engagement with a flatcarton blank at the treating station in a direction normal to the planeof the blank and into encompassing relation to the article group withthe blank folded around the top and sides of the article group and withthe bottom flaps extending substantially in the planes of their attachedside panels, then forwardly to move the article group away from thetreating station, then out of encompassing relation to the articlegroup, and finally in a rearward direction to return the forming elementto the treating station where it may again move toward a at carton onthe support means at the treating station.

2. Mechanism as defined in claim 1, including a second treating stationwhich comprises a relatively thin, narrow article-supporting platedisposed in line with the article support at the rst mentioned treatingstation and upon which article groups are adapted to be advanced fromthe first mentioned treating station, one edge of the plate beinglocated along a line offset inwardly of the path of the adjacent loweredge of the article group to provide a space to permit the extendingbottom flap on that yside of the plate to be folded inward at an angle,a ap folding element supported for in-and-out movement at a level belowthe level of :the under surface of the plate, whereby the flap foldingelement is adapted to fold the extending bottom tiap at such edgeinwardly at Van angle to the plate, and means for moving such foldingelement inwardly in timed relation with the travel of the yformingelement.

3. Mechanism as dened in claim l, in which the support means forreleasably supporting the carton blank comprises a pair of spaced,horizontally disposed elements individually supported to moverespectively from their supporting position outwardly beyond two opposededges of the blank to allow the blank to move freely into position onthe upper surface of the article group, and means operating in timedrelation with the movementof the forming element for moving said cartonblank supporting elements in and out of supporting position.

4. Mechanism as defined in claim 1, including a second treating stationwhich comprises a relatively thin, narrow, article-supporting platedisposed in line with the article support at the first mentionedtreating station and upon which article groups are adapted to beadvanced from the first treating station, one edge of the plate beinglocated along a line offset inwardly of the path of the adjacent loweredge of the article group to provide a space to permit the extendingbottom llap on that edge of the plate to be folded inward at an angle,means for folding the flap inward, an additional article support alignedwith the supporting plate and spaced from the forward edge of said plateto provide an opening to permit edgewise passage of the flaptherethrough, plow means secured in general alignment with the plate andextending upwardly and forwardly from a point below and rearwardly ofthe end of the plate to a point in the plane of the upper surface of theplate, said plow means being adapted to engage the folded flap uponforward movement of the partially packaged article group and move theflap into engagement with the bottom surface of the article group, andmeans for advancing the partially packaged article group past said plowmeans.

5. In a machine for packaging articles within a wraparound carton of thetype comprising a rectangular blank scored along parallel lines toprovide a top panel and two side panels with overlapping bottom llapscarried by the side panels, the combination of an elongated supportingmember on which a group of articles may be arranged and along which suchgroup may be conveyed, said support having a length somewhat in excessof the length of three article groups to provide three treatingstations, the first treating station comprising means for segregating agroup of articles to be packaged and means for releasably holding aflat, wrap-around carton blank in proximity to an article group at suchtreating station with its top panel substantially in register with thetop surface of the article group, a forming member having threerectangular, aligned, downward opening, forming and conveying elementsof inverted box shape, each having end and side walls with interiordimensions adapting each element to fit closely against the ends andsides of an article group when enclosed or partly enclosed within acarton, the forming member being supported to move in a generallyrectangular, closed path whereby the three forming and conveying boxesare adapted to encompass in sequence the tops and sides of the partiallyformed packages conveyed on the elongated support, serving to move suchpartially formed packages step-by-step past the three treating stations,means for operating the forming member continuously through its closedpath, the trailing box being adapted on downward movement to engage aflat lblank arranged above the article group and fold it against the topand sides of the article group as said box moves into encompassingrelation to the carton and article group, such trailing box on forwardmovement of the forming member advancing the partially formed package tothe second treating station, and, on vertical movement, leaving suchpackage at rest at the second treating station, means at said secondtreating station operating during return movement of the forming memberto fold one of the bottom flaps partially toward its final positionbeneath the article group, means operating during the next pass of theforming member when the package is engaged and advanced by the secondforming and conveying box for moving such flap to its final position incontact with the article group, means at the third treating stationoperating during return movement of the forming member to fold thesecond bottom flap partially toward its final position, and meansoperating during the third pass of the forming member, when the packageis engaged and advanced by the third forming and conveying box, formoving the second flap to its final position in contact with the articlegroup and in overlapping relation to the first flap.

6. ln a machine for packaging articles within an open end carton adaptedto enclose an article group byiemploying a forming mechanism which foldsthe carton blank over the top and around two sides of the article group,the combination of a support adapted to hold an article group, a pair ofreleasable, flat carton blank supporting elements arranged above saidarticle support such elements being normally spaced to support oppositeVedge portions of a `blank from beneath and each being mounted foroutward movement from their blank supporting positions to a positiontoutof supporting relation lto the blank, and means for moving saidsupportingV elements outwardly to allow the ilat blank to move againstthe top of the article group.

7. In a machine for packaging articles within a wraparound cartoncomprising a rectangular blank scored along parallel lines to provide atop panel and two side panels with overlapping bottom aps carried by theside panels, the combination of an elongated support adapted formovement therealong of article groups to be packaged, said supporthaving a length in excess of the length of three article groups and awidth generally conforming to the width of an article group, wherebywhen the top and side panels are folded around an article group, thebottom flaps may extend approximately in the plane of the attached sidepanels below the bottom edges of the article group, one of the `bottomflaps being adapted to receive a coating of adhesive to cause the flapsto adhere when overlapped, there being three treating stations arrangedlengthwise of the elongated support, the first treating stationcomprising means for segregating on the support a group of articles tobe packaged and means for releasably holding a dat wrap-around cartonblank in proximity to an article group at such treating station with itstop panels substantially in register with the top surface of the articlegroup, a forming member having three, rectangular, aligned, downwardopening, forming and conveying boxes, each having end and side wallswith interior dimensions adapting each box to t closely against the endsand sides of an article group when enclosed within a carton, the formingmember being supported to move in a generally rectangular, closed path,whereby the three forming and conveying boxes are adapted to encompassin sequence the tops and sides of the individual partially formedpackages conveyed on the elongated support, serving to move suchpartially formed packages step-by-step past the three treating stations,the trailing box of the forming member being adapted on downwardmovement to engage a flat blank arranged above the article group andfold it against the top and sides of the article group as said box movesinto encompassing relation to the carton and article group, at thesecond and third treating stations the elongated support comprisesaligned, relatively thin plate sections, one edge portion of the plateat the second station being located along a line oifset inwardly of thepath of the adjacent lower corner of the article group to provide aspace to permit the extending bottom flap on that side of the plate tobe folded inward at an angle, a flap folding element supported forin-and-out movement below the level of the plate, whereby said elementis adapted to fold the extending bottom ilap at such edge inward at anangle to the plate, means for moving such element inward in timedrelation with the travel of the forming member, said plate section atits'forward end adjacent the end of the second station being spaced fromthe rear end of the plate at the third station to provide an opening toadmit the leading edge of the folded ap, plow means extending from apoint below and rearwardly of the end of the plate to a point locatedforwardly of the opening and in the plane of the plate, said plow meansbeing adapted to engage the folded ap upon forward movement of thepartially formed package and move the flap upward into engagement withthe bottom of the article group, the middle forming and conveying box onthe forming member being engageable with the package at the secondstation to move it onto the supporting plate at the third station, theedge of said plate opposite to the oifset plate edge at the secondstation being similarly oifset along a line spaced inwardly of theadjacent lower corner of the article group to provide a space to permitthe extending bottom flap on that side of the package to be foldedinward at an angle, a second flap folding element supported forin-and-out movement below the level of said plate, whereby said foldingelement is adapted to fold the extending bottom ap at such edge inwardat an angle to the plate, means for moving such element inward in timedrelation with the travel of the forming member, a package supportsection, aligned with the supporting plate at the third station, havinga rear end spaced from the forward end of the plate at the third stationto provide an opening to admit the leading edge of said folded bottomflap, plow means extending from a point below and rearwardly of the endof said plate to a point located forwardly of the opening and in theplane of the plate, said plow means being adapted to engage the foldedflap upon forward movement of the partially formed package and move theilap upward into engagement with the bottom of the article group andwith its free edge portion overlapping the tirst upfolded bottom flap tocomplete the package as it is being delivered to the package supportsection beyond the third station.

8. in a machine for packaging articles within open end, wrap-around typecartons scored to provide a top panel and two side panels `withoverlapping bottom ilaps carried by the side panels, the flaps beingsecured by gluing, such machine including an elongated support for newlyformed packages and means for advancing packages intermittently alongthe support to discharge one package at a time therefrom, thecombination of a package holding conveyor adapted to receive packagesintermittently as discharged from said support, and comprising anelongated frame, spaced sprockets or the like journalled in the frame,an endless flexible member passing over said sprockets, a plurality ofpairs of pocket-forming elements secured transversely of the flexiblemember in uniformly spaced relation, the leading pocket-forming portionof each pair comprising two plates or panels disposed at right angles toeach other to provide a horizontal support for the bottom and a verticalsupport for one side of a package, the trailing pocket-forming portioncomprising a panel disposed, when in normal carrying position of theflexible member, in parallel relation to 4the vertical panel of theleading portion whereby the two vertical panels are adapted to engagethe opposite sides of the package, means for driving the conveyorintermittently to bring the pocket forming portions one at a time intoposition to receive a package, the axis of the sprocket adjacent thepackage support from which packages are discharged being alignedsubstantially vertically below the path of the discharged packages, saidleading pocket-forming portion being brought to rest after eachintermittent movement in registration with the path of packages on thesupport said trailing pocketforming portion at that time being on thecurved contour of the flexible member passing around the sprocket andthus inclined away from its companion vertical panel on the leadingpocket-forming portion, whereby a package may be discharged onto theleading pocket-forming portion, said trailing pocket-forming portionbeing movable into holding relation with the package on the leadingportion with the next advancing movement of the conveyor.

9. In a machine for packaging articles within an openend carton adaptedto enclose a group of articles, arranged in rows, by employing a formingelement to encompass the sides of the article group, the combination ofan elongated support means for supporting the article group lengthwiseof the rows, means for releasably supporting a wrapper blank over a rowof articles on the elongated support, said blank supporting meanscomprising a pair of rods each arranged parallel to oppositelongitudinal sides of the article support and normally disposed abovethe level of the article group to support a blank from below, a rockablepivot means parallel with each rod and mounted in bearings outside theedges of the blank, connections between each rod and its respectivepivot means whereby each rod is swingable in a downwardly and outwardlydirected arc out of supporting relation to the blank to allow the blankto be deposited upon the article group, and means for simultaneouslyswinging said rods to their blank depositing positions.

l0. In a maching -or packaging articles within an open-end, wrap-aroundcarlton of the type comprising a rectangular blank scored along parallellines to provide a top panel and two side panels with bottom flapscarried by the side panels, the combination of a support means for anarticle group arranged in one or more rows, a bottom flap foldermechanism which includes a fixed, thin, elongated plate arranged inoperative relation to the support means and onto which the article groupmay be advanced longitudinally of the rows, means for depositing a flatwrapper blan-k of the -type referred to onto an article group arrangedon the support means with the blank arranged transversely of the rowsand with the top panel in register with the top of the article group, aforming element comprising side walls spaced to t closely along thesides of the article group when enclosed within the carton blank, meansfor moving the forming element downwardly into encompassing relationover the assembled carton blank and article group to fold the blankaround the top and sides of the group, and means for moving the formingelement in a lengthwise direction onto the elongated plate in operativeposition for folding a bottom ap.

11. A machine -for packing two rows of articles within an open-end,wrap-around carton of the type comprising a rectangular blank scoredalong parallel lines to provide a top panel and side panels with bottomaps attached to the side panels, the machine comprising, in combination,a continuously operating conveyor for advancing a group of articlesalong a fixed path, movable stop means for retaining a group of articlesat an assembly station at the discharge end of said conveyor, means fordelivering a flat wrapper blank of the type referred to onto an articlegroup at the assembly station, a forming element comprising side and endwalls spaced to t closely around the article 4group when enclosed within.the carton blank, supporting and guiding means for the forming elementto guide it from a position above the blank and article group andthereafter to advance such group beyond the end of the conveyor, andmechanism for moving the stop means from its article engaging positionprior to the movement of the forming element into full encompassingrelation to the article group and Wrapper blank.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,875,423 Daniels Sept. 6, 1932 2,276,129 Wesselman Mar. 10, 19422,343,521 Benning Mar. 7, 1944 2,817,197 Amness Dec. 24, 1957 2,896,520Woelfer July 28, 1959 2,906,075 Vogel Sept. 29, 1959 2,933,870 GentryApr. 26, 1960 2,953,883 Gentry Sept. 27, 1960

